Educational Assessment (Learning Assessment)

Educational Assessment (Learning Assessment)

Assessments

The human mind is one of the most complex and fascinating structures in our brain. Often termed as the control-tower for all our thoughts, emotions and behaviour, the mind drives the rest of our body that way we feel, think and behave in situations. Understanding the mind can seem like a daunting process. Unlike X-ray scans or blood-tests that give us insight into the biological processes in our body, till date, mental processes cannot be evaluated medically. Hence, this has made it important for the emergence of psychometric assessment tools that quantify mental processes that occur in our mind and help us become aware of some essential intrinsic characteristics within our mind, that form an integral part of who we are. At LifeWorks, we provide a range of psychological assessments that are specifically catered to your need. The assessments complement our therapy process. Seeing aspects of yourself in the form an objective paper-pencil test can help you understand some of the coping skills you currently use to face certain problems as well as identify areas for change. We offer psychometric assessments for the following groups of people: Children Parents Couples Clients with emotional distress Addiction related disorders Neuro-cognition Trauma related disorders Cooperate sectors The assessment process followed at LifeWorks is pretty straightforward

The Assessment Process

You can either visit our center for a full-on assessment alone without first meeting a therapist for counselling, based on the areas of your concern. This is most commonly seen when children require specific psychometric assessments to grant them special access into educational programs or even to monitor progress following a formal diagnosis of disorders such as autism.

Children

You may often find yourself identifying certain behaviours or emotions that are different from their path of obedience and respect for you as well as their teachers. However, you may not be able to trace the exact cause of this reaction let alone find ways to help your child. Several factors such as stress, anxiety, depression and learning difficulties have physical manifestations in children too. Psychometric assessments help identify your child’s thinking, behaviour and emotional patterns. An understanding into the factors that are causing your child to react in certain manner opposite to what is considered ideal can help you take the next steps in terms to of finding solutions. These tests are known as diagnostic tests as they help you identify the core problem. Apart from emotional and behavioural problems, diagnostic tests are also used to identify neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism or brain-related difficulties in your child. Psychometric assessments can also be used to monitor your child’s progress after an initial diagnosis of a behavioural or neurodevelopmental issue has been done. These tests are known as prognostic tests. We offer the following assessments for Children:

Formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Suitable for: Individuals between 0-90 years of age Administration Time: 120 mins

The ADOS is a special tool that is used to diagnose autism and is the only that gives an accurate diagnosis. It is used as an early intervention tool and also to monitor progress during treatment for autism. It is usually done if the child has complaints such as

Inconsistent communication skills

Minimal verbal fluency

Some verbal communication skills but with inconsistencies

Not able to relate to daily life activities

Formal Diagnosis for Behaviour Related Issues such as ADHD

The Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS)

Suitable for: Individuals between 0-90 years of age Administration Time: 30 mins

The ABAS is a test that looks at a child’s behavioural problems. It is usually done when your child has the following complaints:

Unable to communicate in complete sentences that make sense, communicating using words that don’t make sense, communicating without emotions.

Not having an interest to take part in hobbies or sports

Conners-3 for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Suitable for: Children between 6-18 Administration Time:30 mins

The Conners 3 is a test that helps identify whether your child has ADHD. The Conners-3 has 3 specific form, one which will be completed by you when you come for an assessment, the second completed by your child’s class teacher which can be emailed to them. The last one would be administered by the Psychologist to your child. You would opt for this test if:

Your child is between the ages of 6-18

Has difficulty with concentrating for more than 10-20 minutes in class

Is often disruptive and shows unusual behaviours such as spitting, throwing tantrums, vomiting when asked to complete assignments

Has problems socializing with other children

Does not listen to anything you say and is often preoccupied with other things, becoming aggressive when you take those things away from them

The Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-5)

Suitable for: Children between 6-18 years of age Administration Time: 120 mins

The WISC-5 is a universally recognised intelligence test. It is usually done if the child has complaints such as:

Having consistent difficulties in reading and writing

Having consistent difficulties in subjects like maths and science that require the child to be process information quickly and solve problems

Unable to understand what is being taught in class

Unable to remember study topics

Seeing words and numbers as mirror-images

Parents

At LifeWorks, we believe that is not only children who need counselling, but sometimes parents as well. The reason for this is because as parents you will be dealing with your child the most and hence learning some good tools to equip you with a better way to think, behave and train your child will be helpful. Moreover, having an objective understanding of strengths and weaknesses of your approach to parenting would really help you get the best out of parent therapy. We have two tools for parents specially assessing some essential domains such as parental stress, parent-child relationship, parental attitudes towards their child, parents’ role in the family structure etc.

Parent-Child Relationship

Parenting Child Relationship Inventory

Suitable for: Parents of Children between 3-15 years Administration Time: 40 mins

The Parent-Child Relationship Inventory assesses parents’ attitudes toward parenting and toward their children. It explicitly measures the attitudes of both mothers and fathers. Your Psychologist will guide you through answering the questions that are listed in this questionnaire. Some items present general attitudes towards being a parent, and others are intended to elicit responses specific to a parent’s relationship with a particular child. The items are arranged in scales that reflect major features of parenting and the parent-child relationship

Parenting Stress

Parenting StressIndex-4th Edition

Suitable for: Parents of children between 1-12 years of age Administration Time: 60 mins

The PSI measures stress in the relationship between you and your child based on your perception of the child’s characteristics, your personal characteristics as a parent and the interaction between you and your child. It is very helpful in evaluating the magnitude of stress in the relationship between you and your child. It is commonly used as a screening measure for identifying issues that may lead to problems in the child’s or parent’s behaviour.The PSI helps your Psychologist identify specific problem areas and strengths in relation to the child, you as the parent as well as the family system.

Personality

Personality is such a vital aspect of our self-concept, it is what makes us who we are and guides us to think, behave and perceive life events differently. Understanding specific personality characteristics within ourselves can prove beneficial. Especially during the therapeutic process, your Psychologist may recommend that you do a Personality assessment in order to better understand your coping styles to certain situations as well as to help you improve areas of your personality that may be hindering you from having good relationships or be productive at work. We have a number of personality assessments that are often administered if you are:

Unable to concentrate for more than 10-20 minutes.

Seeking career advice

Having conflicts in your work-relationships

Couples who undergoing marital stress

Experiencing psychological distress

Facing trauma related concerns

We have the following assessments available at our Centre.

Psychologist-rated paper pencil tests

Millon’s Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, 4th Edition (MCMI-4)

Suitable for: Adults between 18-90 Administration Time: 30 mins

The MCMI-4 is a paper-pencil personality questionnaire that helps you understand the most dominant aspects of your personality that has been guiding your thinking, behaving and decision-making skills. It is easy to understand and has questions that relate to a real-life situation where you are asked to state whether this situation best relates to you. The results from this test will be discussed by your Psychologist during therapy session. Your Psychologist will go through each of your scores and help you understand your coping styles as well as the areas where you can change. Based on your understanding of these personality scores, the therapy will then be guided to specifically address the areas within your personality which have been identified as a challenge. Apart from this, if you wish to undertake the MCMI to gain insight into your personality, you may ask for one too.

Projective Tests to Assess Personality

Projective personality tests are often used when your Psychologist wants to gain more information about your need. It is different from a standard paper pencil test as you will be presented with a series of pictures of various life-situations and asked to state how you would best explain what’s happening in the situation.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Suitable for: Individuals between 5-90 Administration Time:40 mins

The Rorschach Inkblot test consists of 10 picture cards that would suggest an ambiguous scene which will be interpreted by you according to the way you perceive the scenes. It helps you gain insight into a psychological distress if you have difficulty articulating the problem to your Psychologist. It is a good tool to rule out whether you are undergoing some psychological distress.

Psychological Distress

Psychometric assessments are also very effective in measuring psychological difficulties that you have been experiencing since quite a while.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2)

Suitable for: Adults between 18-90 years of age Administration Time: 30 mins

The MMPI is a clinical assessment tool that helps identify emotional and behavioural psychological issues that seem to be persistently bothering you. It helps your Psychologist understand the exact cause of the issue that is causing you emotional distress because of the depth of the questions that are asked. You will be asked to self-rate the questions based on whether they apply to you or not. The questions are structured in a coherent, safe and non-threatening way so that you can answer each one aptly. The test results would give you insight into whether you have a psychological disorder and guide the therapeutic process so that the psychological disorder can be dealt with effectively.

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5

Suitable for: Adults between 18-90 years of age Administration Time: 60 mins

The SCID-V is commonly used when you come with complaints of serious emotional distress which has been impeding your ability to work and live productively. This is not a questionnaire or a checklist where you answer “Yes” or “No” to find out whether you have a psychological disorder. This instrument is quite personalised, in that enables you to tell your Psychologist the exact symptoms that you have been facing, the intensity of these symptoms and the duration. This would then help your Psychologist make a formal diagnosis of the psychological disorder based on the information you have given. The SCID-V written by your Psychologist is widely recognised universally and is accepted at all leading Psychiatric facilities all over the world.

Corporate Sector

Apart from clinical assessments, we also offer psychometric assessments for the corporative sector, especially for the purpose of employee recruitment and assessing leadership development among executive positions.

Psychometric assessments for employee recruitment

ACER Select Series for General and Professional Abilties

Suitable for: Employee Recruitment

The ACER Select Series are quick and easily administered tests of verbal or numerical reasoning. They are suitable for recruiting in a variety of occupations, from sales and clerical, to junior management and graduate selection. They assess general intellectual ability as demonstrated by the ability to see relationships and solve problems in verbal and numerical material.The General Select is intended for candidates who are applying for technical, clerical, and administrative positions. The Professional Select is appropriate for candidates applying for positions where the work requires a high level of reasoning ability, or where these qualities will become more important as staff are promoted, e.g. graduate recruitment, managerial, or leadership roles.

Leadership Behaviour Description Questionnaire

Suitable for: Measuring Leadership Development

The LBDQ is used extensively by large multinational companies where it may not be feasible for the senior management to guage their leaders’ performance. The LBDQ is a paper-pencil test whereby group members provide their views about their leader. It is widely used in the US and UK, from government institutions (such as the military) to industry, to gender, to the clergy, as well as to athletes. The questions address the following: